Sen. Bakk: Constitutional amendment just the latest distraction from the GOP

“With just a few short weeks left before the budget deadline, Republican leaders are spending their time pushing their divisive social agenda rather than doing the hard work of passing a balanced budget plan.

Today’s announcement is simply another distraction from the real challenges facing our state. Right now, House and Senate Republicans have two competing budget plans with only one thing in common: neither actually balances. We have pleaded with Republican lawmakers to get serious, fix the billion-dollar holes in their two budget plans, and spend every moment we have at the Capitol between now and May 23rd working towards a budget compromise with the Governor.

Instead, they’re spending their time pushing legislation that wouldn’t even be implemented until November of 2012.

Minnesotans expect us to complete our work on time and reach a fair compromise with the Governor. This simply won’t be possible unless Republican leaders set aside their social agenda and put 100% of their time and effort in to fixing the hole in their budget and negotiating with Gov. Dayton.”